COOKEVILLE, Tenn. --Junior Peyton Fointno and freshman Onnika Spencer knocked in five RBI apiece to help power the Tennessee State Tigers over the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles 15-10 on Sunday. Freshman Holly Ayala (5-11) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Tennessee State (18-24-1, 9-11 OVC). The right-hander went 4.2 innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on six hits, allowing two walks, and striking out two.

Five Tigers had multiple hits, with Spencer leading the way, going 3-for-5 with two doubles for the Tigers. Fointno compiled a standout effort as well, going 2-for-4 with a double. Sophomore Ryla Traylor also contributed for Tennessee State, putting together two hits in four trips to the plate while adding a double and two walks. Sophomores Mikayla Duke and Alyssia Drayton both had two hits as well. 

Every Tiger in the lineup either scored a run or had at least an RBI. The 15 runs were the most by TSU this season. The Tigers scored in four innings for the third time in the season. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

Trailing 1-0, the Tigers went to work, sending 11 batters to the plate and scoring six runs in the third inning. With one out, junior Laila Armstrong got on base with a walk. Traylor hit a single with two outs to set up Simpson's two-RBI double down the right-field line. Spencer hit a double to knock in Simpson and chased TTU starter, Callie Piper. Duke was hit by a pitch and freshman Jasmine Blackburn walked to load the bases. Fointno knocked in Spencer and Duke with a single to center field. Drayton then came up for the second time in the inning and knocked in Blackburn with a single to right. 

In the bottom of the inning, the Golden Eagles rallied to score seven runs and take an 8-6 lead. The Tennessee State offense exploded for four more runs to retake the lead in the top of the fourth, highlighted by a three-run double off the bat of Spencer, which brought the Tigers' lead to 10-8. The Tigers committed three costly errors in the inning.

Tennessee Tech narrowed Tennessee State's lead to 10-9 in the bottom of the fourth. The Tigers stretched the advantage to 11-9 in the fifth inning when Duke smashed an RBI single that scored Traylor. The Golden Eagles fought back, closing the gap to 11-10 on an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth. The score stayed the same until the top of the seventh when the Tigers scored four runs to pad their lead to 15-10. Traylor led off the inning with a double then scored on a one-out single by Spencer. Fointno doubled to left, scoring Spencer and Duke. She scored when Armstrong reached base on an error to close the scoring. 

Tennessee State added some insurance in the seventh. The Tigers scored four runs in the inning, highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of Fointno, bringing the Tennessee State advantage to 15-10.

GAME NOTES

» Spencer compiled three base knocks in the game for TSU.
» The Tigers' power output was led by Spencer, who had two extra-base hits in the ballgame.
» Fointno and Spencer drove in five runs for Tennessee State.
» Every Tennessee State starter reached base safely in the win.
» Tennessee State's highest-scoring inning was the third when it pushed six runs across.
» Five Tigers had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» Tennessee State went 8-for-16 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» Tennessee State pitchers faced 41 Tennessee Tech hitters in the game, allowing 14 ground balls and three fly balls while striking out four.
» The Tigers drew nine walks from Tennessee Tech pitching.
» Spencer led the Tigers at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and five RBI.
» Tennessee Tech was led offensively by junior Carmen Betts, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI.

The Tigers will host Morehead State in their final regular season games in a three-game series this Saturday and Sunday.